Shaving the tongue upon awakening is a millennial practice. In the past it related to religious practices, for example Hindus regarded the mouth as the entrance door of the body and therefore it was necessary to keep it clean, in addition to brushing the teeth also used tongue scrapers with sharp curves made of silver, gold, copper, tin, or brass. The Indians used tree branches, folding in the form of inverted “V” to scrape their tongues.
However, its roots originate in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian medical system, based on writings that rely on holistic and integrative approaches to health. Ayurvedic professionals explain that when you have a White, yellowish or brown coating on the tongue means that your digestive system has not assimilated nutrients in the best possible way, allowing bacteria and dead cells to get stuck on the back of the tongue.
Link between the tongue and other parts of the body
It is believed that the front, about a third of the tongue, is related to lungs and cardiac organs. The Small lumps that give rough texture are called taste buds, they are linked to critical nerves in the brain. The central portion is connected to the pancreas, liver, spleen and stomach, while the back of the tongue relates to the colon and intestine.
Health Benefits
Scraping this coating that covers the tongue every day prevents these toxins from being reabsorbed into your digestive tract, and can inflame your gums, cause bad breath, weaken digestion and cause constipation, swelling, and other complaints. Tongue scraping is safe when performed smoothly with a quality scraper. And it should be added to a regular brushing and flossing routine.
One study showed that a week of tongue scraping decreased the amount of bacteria causing caries in the mouth and gum disease. Similarly, a review and meta-analysis revealed that adding tongue cleansing to the routine significantly reduced halitosis indicators (chronic bad breath) when compared with brushing only of teeth. In addition, tongue cleaning has not only significantly reduced the amount of tongue coating, but has also improved its taste. In particular, the cleansing of the tongue increased the bitter sensations and the taste of salt.
What to do and what not to do!
- Keep the scraper clean and sterile.
- Do not use it the tongue, or use too much pressure. If you feel irritation, be aware of the way you are doing it. The tongue is a delicate organ and needs to be treated gently.
- Use a good quality scraper. Plastic scrapers should be avoided.
- The scraper should not have a sharp contour. This can hurt the tongue or increase roughness.
- Don’t share the scraper – consider it an extension of your toothbrush.
- Do not shave your tongue if you have a wound or mouth wound.
referencesBody
Study suggestion: What are the advantages of shaving your tongue when you wake up? – Science Play
Watch the video on Science Play with :
Nutrition under the gaze of Ayurveda
Article: Tokinobu A, Yorifuji T, Sasai M, Doi H, Tsuda T. Effects of tongue cleaning on Ayurvedic digestive power and oral health-related quality of life: A randomized cross-over study. Complement Ther Med
. 2018;36:9-13. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2017.11.011
